“Apart from household duties, one will find many women tilling the fields, preparing seedbeds, transplanting, weeding, applying fertilisers or irrigating gardens. When the crop is ready for harvesting, it is the female farmer who rises to the task. About 80 per cent are involved, we should acknowledge their role,” he said.

Habarurema further explained that the important role women traditionally play in agriculture shouldn’t be underlooked.

“Women contribute immensely to production by ensuring the preservation of higher-yielding seed varieties and the proper drying and storage of grain,” he said.